ENMG can also be helpful in assessing the prognosis for recovery from nerve injuries. The examination may feel exciting to the child, but it allows the physician to evaluate the function of the nerves and muscles.
Small electrical stimuli delivered by the examination device are used to measure nerve function. These stimuli may cause the child's thumb to move on its own or the leg to kick involuntarily.
In the muscle study, a thin needle electrode inserted into the muscle measures the signals produced by the muscle. These signals can be heard by the child as various crackling and rustling sounds.